Not school, but uni...
We had to make a robot that did clever things, but sadly having scammed my way into Cambridge without the required intelligence - certainly not in the field of engineering - I had to improvise.

I was ultimately penalised for securing various parts of my robot to each other with gaffer tape, rather than using a rivet gun, my reasoning being that riveting doesn't live up to its name. Given that the bugger worked, I felt hard done by.

My lab partner, however, identified that part of my problem was turning up to the 9am marking session still drunk from the night before, in a dinner jacket, and carrying a trumpet.

Astonishingly, I still have an MA (YES, AN MA) in Engineering.
( prince-igor si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 11:09, 10 replies)

*Clicks*
Mainly for the "riveting doesn't live up to its name" line. Also, Cambridge would give you an MEng (or an MSc at least) for Engineering, Shirly?
(tarbin tarbis, tarbit, tarbamus, tarbimus, tarbant, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 11:24, closed)

I have a feeling oxford and cambridge give MAs for engineering
in some weird illogical twist
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 11:35, closed)

Tis true
I know Cambridge (and maybe Oxford) only gives BA and MA even for the science and engineering degree courses. I think the one exception is either the law or business degree, can't recall which.
(Angio can smell your fear just by looking at you., Tue 18 Aug 2009, 12:03, closed)

A late reply but....
You get an MEng if you do the full four years...

If at the end of your third year, having obtained two 3rds and a "pass" you are offered the exciting opportunity to bugger off now with a BA, it converts automatically to an MA shortly afterwards.
( prince-igor si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 14:28, closed)

Every Cambridge degree
is an Arts degree - BA, MA etc, regardless of the subject its in. It always baffles me slightly that a couple of my friends have BA's in Natural Sciences...I'm not sure what the rules are at Oxford though.

have a hearty *click* for the last paragraph.
(berk, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 12:11, closed)

ahhh...
the end of year 2... when others are out at the Pub, we're slaving away trying to get it to work... the smell of the Engineering workstation rooms is permanently etched in my nostrils
(zero.coke, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 12:14, closed)

Don't all Oxbridge grads
get MAs, regardless of whether or not they went beyond a BA? I'm fairly sure you can do a BA, and after a few years they offer you the chance to upgrade to an MA for a small amount of cash...
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:07, closed)

Not for cash...
...free of charge.

I was most surprised, having assumed that 2 thirds and a pass would somehow kick me off this lovely little scheme. I'd be mighty annoyed about it if I had a proper masters.
( prince-igor si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:55, closed)

At Cambridge
you are automatically granted an MA a couple of years after graduation. It's ultimately meaningless, but a good excuse to meet up with your old undergrad mates for dinner and drunkenness. Also, it's College's way of saying 'don't go forgetting about us if you make lots of cash in the future. Do drop by to see us from time to time (and bring your chequebook)'.
(Dr. Scambolic, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:06, closed)

Bastard supervisors from hell
We used to have one chap who insisted on having maths supervisions at 8.30am on Sunday. This is not a good time if you're a musician at all.
(potato123, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:59, closed)